Drug impairment tests for drivers

Wednesday, 22 December 2004 12:00 AM

Drivers who the police suspect of having taken drugs will be required to undertake roadside impairment tests, under a new code of practice
launched today.

To obtain a conviction under the Road Traffic Act 1988 police are required to show not just that drugs have been taken, but also that an
individual's judgement has been impaired.

Equipment to allow roadside testing for drugs will be introduced from next year, but police will still have to test for impairment to drive.

Included in the new code will be American style tests such as standing on one leg and officers will receive special training in administering
the tests. About half of the UK's police forces already have officers trained in impairment testing.

The code of practice will detail the tests to be undertaken, how they should be administered, the kind of observations that may be made and
the inferences that may be drawn. Refusal to take a test will be an offence.

Launching the plans, Road Safety Minister David Jamieson said: "Drug driving puts lives at danger and is as irresponsible as drink driving.
Drivers should never get behind the wheel when they're unfit to drive. Law abiding motorists are fed up with anti social drivers who put not
only their own lives at risk but those of other innocent road users."

He added that: "Testing will mean that a trained officer will have more information on which to judge whether a driver may be impaired and more
evidence when deciding whether to make an arrest."

The penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence of drugs are the same as for drink driving, namely a maximum fine of £5,000,
12 month disqualification and up to six months in prison.

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